Having thus restored The Rhymer to earth, he was permitted to remain for a time, to enlighten and astonish his countrymen by deeds resulting from the knowledge, and by his marvellous prophetic powers, acquired during his seven years' residence in the Fairyland; still, however, bound to return to his royal mistress when she should intimate her pleasure. Accordingly, while Thomas was making merry with his friends in the Tower of Ercildoune, a person came running in, and told, with marks of fear and astonishment, that a hart and hind had left the neighbouring forest, and were, composedly and slowly, parading the street of the village. This being the signal agreed upon for his recall to Elfinland, the prophet instantly arose, left his habitation, and followed the wonderful animals to the forest, whence he was never seen to return. According to the popular belief, he still "drees his weird" in Fairyland, and is one day expected to revisit the earth. The village of Ercildoune is situated on the Leader, two miles above its junction with the Tweed, and the ruins of an ancient tower are still pointed out as The Rhymer's castle. The Eildon tree, from under which he delivered his prophecies, no longer exists; but the spot is marked by a large stone, called Eildon Tree Stone; and a neighbouring rivulet takes the name of the Bogle Burn, from being the spot where The Rhymer's visitants met him. Hunting was a favourite sport at the Fairy court. They rode to the hunt in three bands. The first was mounted on brown horses; the second rode on grey; while the third, consisting of the king, queen, and chief nobles, sat on white steeds. One member of the court rode on a black charger: this was Kilmaulie, prime councillor of Fairyland. Altogether, they seem to have led a jolly life there, the principal drawback being the liability to pay, every seventh year, one of their number as a tribute or Kain to hell. This is described in the ballad of "Tamlane," who, while he relates the delights of his home in Fairyland, and even, somewhat selfishly, values them higher than the affection of his true love, fair Janet, does not relish the possible finale in his being made the Kain to hell:-- "But we, that live in Fairyland, No sickness know, nor pain; I quit my body when I will, And take to it again. "I quit my body when I please, Or unto it repair; We can inhabit, at our ease, In either earth or air. "Our shapes and size we can convert To either large or small; An old nut-shell's the same to us As is the lofty hall. "We sleep in rose-buds soft and sweet, We revel in the stream, We wanton lightly on the wind, Or glide on a sunbeam. "And all our wants are well supplied From every rich man's store, Who thankless sins the gifts he gets, And vainly grasps for more. "And it is sic a bonnie place, And I like it sae well, That I wou'd never tire, Janet, In Elfish land to dwell.